Here's why depression is making you fat

Study reveals suffering from depressive symptoms raises your risk of obesity by up to 49%

People suffering from depression who are at-risk of heart disease have a marker in their blood that increases inflammation, a known cause of heart complications, research reveals, reported Daily Mail. Experiencing moderate signs of the mental health disorder also raises your heart disease risk by up to 57%, the research added.

Increased inflammation may play a greater role in depressed patients' heart disease risk than their possible behaviours, such as smoking and being physically inactive, the researchers concluded. Researchers from Rice University, Houston analysed 1,085 people who suffer symptoms of depression and are at-risk of heart disease. Those with mild depressive symptoms, such as difficulty sleeping and a lack of energy, were 36% more likely to be obese than those without signs of the mental health disorder.



Moderate depression sufferers were 49% more likely to be obese and 57% more likely to have metabolic syndrome - a cluster of conditions including increased blood pressure, fat around the waist and high blood sugar. Obesity and metabolic syndrome are both known causes of heart disease.

Study author Dr Diana Chirinos, said: “We thought that individuals who are depressed might be more likely to engage in unhealthy behaviors such as drinking alcohol, smoking and not exercising, which can lead to risk factors for heart disease. However, this was not necessarily the case.”

The researchers then took blood samples from the participants which revealed a marker associated with inflammation. Chirinos revealed, “After testing the blood of patients in the study, we discovered that depression creates an immune system response.” An immune marker that signals inflammation in the body was found in the blood of study participants who displayed symptoms of depression and risk factors of heart disease, such as obesity and metabolic syndrome. Inflammation is increasingly being linked to heart disease, the researchers added.



Are you depressed? Try these mood-lifting tips

Go for a walk - exercise lifts your mood

Get some sunlight - inadequate vitamin D supplies makes us feel low

Stand tall - having an open posture boosts our self worth

Ditch the sugar - crashes affect our emotions

Be social - others can offer emotional support

Reminisce - a trip down memory lane can combat feelings of isolation

Brush and floss - depression can weaken our immune systems, affecting oral health

Embrace your age - stressing about ageing has been linked to low mood.

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